Recommended Reading

Staff Favorites

Anne Bishop

“Anne Bishop creates such in depth worlds, each filled with unique and wonderful or terrible characters. To me, reading one of Bishop’s novels isn’t simply opening up and starting a page turner, it is committing to spending hours inside the head and heart of her characters and experiencing everything they go through with them as though it was happening right in front of you. More than any other author I have ever read, Bishop’s writing affects me on a deeply personal level that makes me laugh, sob, and scream in rage as she takes me through her rich and enchanting worlds.”—Christi

Series by this Author:

The Courtyards of the Others

The Landscapes of Ephemera

The World of the Fae

Realms of the Blood

Diane Gabaldon

“Diana Gabaldon weaves a rich, personal narrative with a dense historical accuracy making the reader feel as if they are watching the story unfold in real time.”—Becky

Series by this Author:

Outlander

Lord John Grey

Ken Follett

“Ken Follett drops his reader into a specific place and time and guides them through history. Learning about the past has never been so much fun!” —Becky

Series by this Author:

The Century Trilogy

Piers Roper

Kingsbridge

Apples Carstairs (as Simon Myles)

Follet has also written over a dozen stand-alone novels.

John Grisham

“His books are very captivating from page one to the last page. Reading his books makes how the law works intriguing.”—Patty

Series by this Author:

Jake Brigance

Theodore Boone

Grisham has written over twenty stand-alone novels

Kevin J. Anderson

“Something for everyone. Even though he works primarily in Science Fiction and Fantasy, his style ranges from humorous horror to graphic novels to spin-off novels of popular sagas like Star Wars, Dune and The X Files.”—Judith

Series by this Author:

Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy

Saga of Seven Suns

Saga of Shadows trilogy

Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I

Robert R. McCammon

“(McCammon is)…very immersive and engaging. Every character feels real and you can’t help but get swept up into the riveting plot.”—Judith

Series by this Author:

Matthew Corbet

Trevor Lawson

Juliet Marillier

“Juliet sets her worlds in the past when magic was still a cornerstone of religion and life. Her books follow a Family and a few friends as they fight for leadership, peace, and the continuation of magic. Magic comes from the earth and sometimes the Gods. The fey and the Old Ones work at odds to subtly influence the events that place kings on thrones and change the course of Magic’s history. Later books briefly shed light on how the belief in Druidic magic and the old gods is slowly replaced with Christianity.”—Cathy

Series by this Author:

Blackthorn & Grim

Shadowfell

Sevenwaters

Wildwood

The Bridei Chronicles

Saga of the Light Isles

Tamora Pierce

“Tamora Pierce has built an entire new world with the main country being Tortall, but some of her books take you to other countries, where lifestyle and politics are different. Her books have strong female leads faced with choices and given powers that they must master to help better their countries and the world. Magic is called “The Gift” and some have it, others do not. There is also Free magic, but it is rare and believed to be a myth by many. The Gods play a large part in the lives of all the people in her world. The pantheon has many gods, some of which do their best to mettle in Human events in order to shape the world to their liking. At certain times, they must step back and let human choices change the course of history. They can only mettle so much.”—Cathy

Series by this Author:

Beca Cooper

Tricksters

Protector of the Small

The Immortals

The Song of the Lioness

The Circle Reforged

The Circle Opens

The Circle of Magic

Rudolfo Anaya

“Rudolfo Anaya brings the Southwest to life with deep caring for land, culture and the power of women healers. His books are full of magic, myth, and open our hearts to appreciate and protect this ancient land and fragile environment. Mr. Anaya also wrote children’s books to keep traditions alive.”—Melissa

Series by this Author:

Sonny Baca

Some Others this Author wrote:

Bless me Ultima

Heart of Aztlan

Serafina’s stories

The Silence of the Llano

Jalamanta

John Steinbeck

“This description from the publisher says it all:

‘First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning epic of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads—driven from their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. Out of their trials and their repeated collisions against the hard realities of an America divided into Haves and Have-Nots evolves a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, elemental yet plainspoken, tragic but ultimately stirring in its human dignity. A portrait of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless, of one man’s fierce reaction to injustice, and of one woman’s stoical strength, the novel captures the horrors of the Great Depression and probes into the very nature of equality and justice in America. At once a naturalistic epic, captivity narrative, road novel, and transcendental gospel, Steinbeck’s powerful landmark novel is perhaps the most American of American Classics.’”—Rose

By this Author:

In Dubious Battle

Of Mice and Men

The Grapes of Wrath

East of Eden

Travels with Charley

(And many other less well known works)

Cassandra Clare

“She (Clare) has a way of bringing you into the story. She has characters that you are able relate with and she makes you fall in love with them from the first page. She’s also great at describing the settings in her novels, you almost feel like you are there with the characters”—Katie

Series by this Author:

The Mortal Instruments

The Infernal Devices

The Dark Artifices

The Magisterium Series (co-authored with Holly Black)

Lois Lowry

“At the recommendation of my teenaged grandson, I read The Giver by Lois Lowry. As a student of sociology, the book intrigued me. I immediately ordered her other three books in the set, which form The Giver Quartet. I enjoy her books because of their varying style and content. Her books have truly unique characters and often tackle serious topics. I am anxious to read her biography, Looking Back, which is a new acquisition for our library.”—Pat

Series by this Author:

The Giver Quartet

Anastasia

Sam Krupnik

Tate Family

Gooney Bird

Jacqueline Winspear

“Winspear’s writing… is some of the most thought-provoking, introspective fiction I have read. I have cried at several sections of her books. Winspear is absolutely one of the very best authors at making me FEEL as the characters FEEL. I feel as if any words I might use to describe Winspear’s communication about societal and cultural issues and controversies to be so very lacking and insufficient. What I take away is a rich narrative experience that leaves me thinking and feeling. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys period piece mysteries; especially one with an unbelievably strong, intelligent, charismatic female lead.”—Salai